All posts by Kevin Bertalotto

In this match-up we have two teams who lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, in one corner we have the 58 win Pacers led by all time great Reggie Miller and head coach Larry Bird. Defensively they were one of the best just allowing 89.9ppg while scoring 96 themselves with 3 double digit scorers. When it came to rebounding they were ranked 27th at 39.3rpg. Although at 3pt shooting they ranked second at 39%. In the opposite corner we have the 56 win Pacers led by star player Paul George. That team held teams to 92.3ppg, while scoring 96.7 points with 6 double digit scorers. Unlike Reggie’s team, the 2014 Pacers were the best at getting boards ranking 1st at 44.7 a game, however finished 17th in 3pt% at 35.7. Who comes out on top? Well that’s what we’re about to find out.

Predictions:

Very close in several categories, but I believe the edge in rebounds will be the deciding factor, not only that but the 2014 IND Pacers were just a bit more deep, had 3 more double digit scorers along with more 3pt shooters off the bench. 98 Pacers could win 2 games but to win 4? I don’t see it happening even with home court advantage.

Game 1

No surprise with the outcome however Reggie shooting that bad even with PG13 on him was a bit shocking, as well as 98 IND getting 11 less FTAs. Game 2 should be closer.

Game 2

First off, wow only 4 tovs, secondly Miller again with a poor performance but Antonio Davis bullied David West for 18 and 10. Roy with just 3 points is pathetic, but 2014 Indy just had to steal one game on the road, which they accomplished, just gotta protect their home and it’s over.

Game 3

Wow what a wild second half, both teams getting red hot and ice cold at opposite timing. Rik Smits stepped up but not enough to make up Reggie’s mediocre performance. Shout out to David West, twice he was the team’s best player. Zero made threes by Paul’s team was very unexpected Down 2-1 it is needed more than ever for Reggie to go off.

Game 4

Of course the one time Reggie goes off they lose, 21 forced tovs and just 9 FTAs, wow talk about great defense. Roy final woke up as well as Hill. Luis Scola with 16 off the bench was key. Up 3-1, things are looking pretty great for Paul’s team.

Game 5

For the first time Reggie’s squad has scored over 100 led by Miller’s 20pts on 81% shooting, however it was really Antonio again who was the best player, not only did he lead both teams in rebounds but clamped West along the way. Avoiding elimination will this dub carry momentum for the 98 Pacers for Game 6?

Game 6

Well never mind about momentum being carried over, Lance of all people took over, something Bird did not game plan for, Hibbert again finally showed scoring 17, which is 11 more than he did in Game 5. 26-15 FTAs should seem normal but even with more shooters, 2014 Indy managed to draw more fouls. Yet again the 2014 Pacers great defense forced more turnovers while not turning it over themselves. As I predicted before, 98 Pacers will get just 2 wins.

Thank You For Reading!! Join The Conversation!! Who wins?Want To See More Match-ups?? Leave A Comment!!

Note: In this unbiased article we’ll get to see Dwight Howard’s 5 best seasons vs Ewing’s.

Scoring

Dwight Howard

Patrick Ewing

08-12 Dwight

89-94 Ewing

20.6ppg

7.2/12.2 FGAs= 59%

6.2/10.8 FTAs = 57.9%

28.7 offensive win shares

25.6ppg

10.1/18.5 FGAs = 51.8%

5.4/7.2 FTAs = 74.9%

Comments: Although there is no stats on Ewing’s shooting, we do know he was able to shoot jumpers, unlike Dwight, definitely had more offensive moves again, unlike Dwight. No doubt based off the stats and footages of the two it is quite obvious Patrick Ewing was the better scorer.

Rebounding

Dwight Howard

Patrick Ewing

08-12 Dwight

90-94 Ewing

13.9 rpg

3.8 offensive rebs

10.1 defensive rebs

grabbed 31% of team’s total rebs

11.3rpg

2.6 offensive rebs

8.7 defensive rebs

grabbed 21% of team’s total rebs

Thoughts: Although Dwight averaged more rebounds than Ewing, we must factor in several things like Pat played with Charles Oakley during those 5 yrs who avg 10.5 rebs, D12 never had a teammate during those 5 yrs that rebounds like Oakley, for multiple seasons Rashard Lewis was Dwight’s best rebounding teammate. The average pace from 08-12 was 92.04, from 90-94 was 96.02, we all know in the 00s teams shot more 3s than in the Ewing’s time making it harder for centers like Dwight to get rebounds. This category is so close when you factor in everything, so let’s call it a tie.

Defense

Dwight Howard

Patrick Ewing

08-12 Dwight

90-94 Ewing

2.5 blocks

1.1 steals

33.3 defensive win shares

96 DRTG

3.0 blocks

1 steal

33.8 defensive win shares

98 DRTG

Comments: In Dwight’s defense, Patrick Ewing did benefit from hand checking, allowed to be a bit more physical, but Pat definitely made more players shook than D12 who many consider “soft”. Although Ewing was more tough on defense, I do think Dwight was the better rim protector if you were to have Ewing play by the rules Howard played with. Sure Pat played against more elite centers than Dwight did in those 5 yrs, but we can’t deny D12 was the slightly better defender, come on og the 5 years not once was Ewing top 3 in DPOY, meanwhile Howard won it 3x in a row!

Playoffs

Dwight Howard

Patrick Ewing

08-11 Dwight (53 games)

90-94 Ewing (65 games)

20.7ppg

7/11.6 FGAs = 60%

14.3rpg

1.5 asts

2.9blks

4.7 defensive win shares

24.3 PER

98 DRTG

23.8ppg

9.5/20.1 FGAs = 47%

11.2rpg

2.5 asts

2.5 blks

5 defensive win shares

21 PER

101 DRTG

Comments: Almost the same in the regular season, Ewing was the better offensive player but Dwight had a slight edge on D, as far as rebounding Dwight does lead that along with efficiency.

Advanced stats

Dwight Howard

08-12 Dwight

90-94 Ewing

Player Efficiency Rating- 24.5

Value Over Replacement- 21.3

Player Efficiency Rating- 23.2

Value Over Replacement- 22.7

In those 5 years:

Dwight: 5x All Star, won DPOY for 3 consecutive years, made all defensive team 1st and 2nd all 5 yrs, all NBA 1st Team 5x, led the NBA in rebounds 4x, led the league in blocks 2x, was top 3 in MVP voting, led Orlando to the Finals (09)

Ewing: 5x All star, made all NBA 1st Team 1x, all NBA 2nd team 3x, led New York to the Finals (94).

Conclusion

Yes both are great players and did what they were asked to do very well, having said when asked who in their prime was the better individual, I would take Ewing, but not in a heartbeat.

Thoughts: Considering Adams plays with a top 2 rebounding point guard named Russell Westbrook, I am not surprised Clint has the edge in rpg, having said that, it is clear Steven is better at crashing the glass on the offensive end. Close but I’d give the edge to Capela who played less minutes.

Scoring

Steven Adams

Clint Capela

2017-2018

13.9 ppg

5.9/9.4 FGAs = 62.9%

359/530 (67 7%) R.A.

84/168 (50%) in the paint non RA

69.2% of FGM were assisted

125 ORTG

13.9 ppg

6/9.1 FGAs = 65%

406/586 (69.3%) RA

32/76 (42%) in the paint non R.A

81.9% of FGM were assisted

126 ORTG

2016-2017

11.3 ppg

4.7 / 8.2 = 57%

263/410 (64%) R.A.

108/218 (49.5%) in the paint non R.A.

66.8% of FGM were assisted

114 ORTG

12.6 ppg

5.6/ 8.7 FGAs

322/477 (69.6%) RA

28/80 (35%) in the paint non R.A

82.6% of FGM were assisted

122 ORTG

2015-2016

8.0 ppg

3.3 / 5.3 = 61%

207/329 (62.9%) RA

43/83 (57.8%) in the paint non R.A

76.2% of FGM were assisted

123 ORTG

7.0 ppg

3.0/ 5.2 FGAs = 58%

212/338 (62.7%) RA

18/54 (33%) in the paint non R.A

66.7% of FGM were assisted

114 ORTG

Comments: Man it’s really close again, based off what has been provided, I would give the edge to Adams only because Steven plays well BOTH in the restricted area as well as in the paint non R.A. unlike Clint, but both do mainly get their points because of their main playmaker (Russ and Harden). If you watch both players you would know Steve takes more contested shots than Clint as well.

DEFENSE

Steven Adams

Clint Capela

2017-2018

overall 505/1131 (44.7%)

on 2s: 387/814 (47.5%)

on 3s: 118/317 (37.2%)

on Iso D: 44/114 (38%)

When defending the rim: 200/341 (58%)

107 DRTG

contested 1021

shots

overall: 568/1206 (47%)

on 2s: 477/968 (49%)

on 3s: 91/238 (38%)

on Iso D: 67/159 (42%)

When defending the rim: 303/503 (60%)

101 DRTG

contested 958 shots

2016-2017

overall: 520/1098 (47.4%)

on 3s: 77/217 (35.5%)

on 2s: 443/881 (50%)

on Iso D: 45/114 (39%)

When defending the rim: 227/368 (61.7%)

107 DRT

contested 1004 shots

overall: 397/511 (49%)

on 3s: 44/130 (33.8%)

on 2s: 353/681 (51.8%)

on Iso D:27/60 (45%)

When defending the rim: 226/374 (60.4%)

106 DRTG

contested 663 shots

2015-2016

overall: 436/1043 (41.8%)

on 3s: 53/163 (32.5%)

on 2s: 383/880 (43.5%)

on Iso D: 28/88 (32%)

When defending the rim: 213/366 (58%)

105 DRTG

overall:339/766 (44%)

on 3s: 40/127 (31.5%)

on 2s: 299/639 (46.8%)

on Iso D: 18/50 (36%)

When defending the rim: 185/331 (55.9%)

104 DRTG

Thoughts: Clint is the superior rim protector and has had a lower defensive rating (that’s a good thing) each year, but on Iso D, Steve held bis man to a lower percentage than Clint did. Also, overall Steven held his man to a lower field goal percentage than Capela did. The contested shot stat goes as far as 2017, another stat Adam had more than Clint. Clint did defend the 3 better, but Steve defended the 2s more well so, overall I give Adams the edge.

Crunch time

Steven Adams

Clint Capela

2017-2018

38 pts

15/21 shooting (71%)

42 rebs

3 blks

137 mins

20 pts

8/12 shooting

20 rebs

1 blk

62 mins

2016-2017

22 pts

8/20 shooting (40%)

27 rebs

6 blks

112 mins

2 pts

1/1 shooting (100%)

3 rebs

0 blks

23 mins i

2015-2016

18 pts

7/13 shooting (53.8%)

32 rebs

4 blks

89 mins

9 pts

3/ 4 shooting (75%)

4 rebs

4 blks

29 mins

Comments: No doubt in crunch time Steven Adams was the better rebounder, scorer and factor than Clint. Once again Adams win a category.

Top 5 Mid Range Shooters In The Last NBA Season

Note: Minimum of at least 100 attempts

No shocker the best midrange shooters was the best shooter in NBA history, Stephen Curry who shot 78/130 (60%). Haters claim he only shoots 3s but clearly he takes his fair share of midrange Js as well.

Chris Paul going 97/180 (53.9%) on midrange was not a surprise as overall he’s a good shooter from all over the court, has high basketball IQ so his shot selection is on point.

This dude actually came off the bench but wounded up top 3 in this list, having said that Trey Burke of the New York Knicks was 89/166(53.6%) from midrange.

At number four we have the last one to shoot at least 50% from midrange, minimum of 100 attempts. TJ McConnell of the Philadelphia 76ers shot 51/102(50%), some may assume he’s a bum since he is a white player off the bench but this man is underrated and will always hustle.

Kyrie Irving aka Uncle Drew was 112/225 (49.8%) from midrange which again wasn’t a shocker.

Honorable mention: Barely behind Kyrie was sharpshooter JJ Redick another 76er who will likely be top 10 next season as well in this category. Anyways, as of last season he went 146/296(49.3%) from midrange.

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